Lake School Board turns down search for new superintendent

July 7, 2014|By Jayna Omaye, Orlando Sentinel

Lake County School Superintendent Susan Moxley has come under increasing fire in recent months from School Board members, but the board Monday narrowly decided against beginning the search for a new leader.

Board member Tod Howard sought the vote to start looking for a new superintendent to possibly succeed Moxley when her contract expires next year. He said he wanted to ensure they had enough time to select the right person.

"There is no doubt that she [superintendent] has significant skill set and has been a benefit to the district, but at this point, the results are not panning out for us," Howard said. "I don't want to get into where we don't have the time to make a proper, well-thought-out decision. This isn't against Dr. Moxley. This was about timing."

But the board voted 3-2 against launching a search, with Howard on the losing end with Kyleen Fischer. Voting no were board Chairwoman Debbie Stivender, Rosanne Brandeburg and Bill Mathias.

Complaints against Moxley, who had run the district since 2008, include her handling of how six of the district's schools failed to comply with state-mandated class-size regulations. An investigation was sparked when a teacher who refused to sign documents showing her class met the mandate filed a complaint with the state. Some board members faulted Moxley for not holding her staff accountable.

Howard also faulted Moxley for the way she handled the district's principal appointments, including the transfer of the principal of Lost Lake Elementary School in Clermont who drew a phalanx of supporters who tried, but failed, to block the shift. Fischer today criticized Moxley's travels, asking, "Who's running the ship while the chief is gone?"

However, Brandeburg commended Moxley for her leadership and said the search would cost too much time and money.

"To say we're just going to get rid of somebody who has done remarkable things for this district, I think, is just wrong," she said. "I cannot support doing a superintendent search without giving our superintendent the opportunity to make the changes that board members want to see."

Moxley defended her work.

"I am very committed to this district," she said Monday. "I work with all our staff. When issues come up, I do address those with the staff. I come every day wanting to make a difference in the education, and I want student achievement to go up, and I want us to be efficient in our operations."